NATCHITOCHES – Despite losing two of its best sprinters in school history the past two seasons, the Northwestern State men's track and field team is only raising expectations to compete on the national level with its 11-member incoming signing class.

Four of NSU's six sprinter signees are junior college All-Americans or nationally ranked high school sprinters.

The Demons added a pair of junior college All-American jumpers paired with a thrower and two distance runners.

Sprinters Junior Charles and Brandon Letts helped South Plains Community College to a national championship with multiple All-American honors.

Charles finished in the top eight the 200 and 400 meters, boasting personal bests of 20.89 and 46.48, respectively.

Letts specializes in the short sprints, earning All-American status in the 60 meters (6.79). He's a strong 100 meters as well with a 10.25 mark.

"(Charles) has a lot of range and brings a lot of experience to this team," said NSU sprints coach Adam Pennington, who also serves as the team's associate head coach. "I really expect him to come in and contest school records right away, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's at NCAA (Outdoor Championships) this season.

"(Letts) should also contribute right away as a very explosive kid who has a shot to make noise in the Southland Conference. I think we got a steal."

NSU added four high school sprinters, including a pair of DeSoto (Texas) High products who are nationally ranked.

Kennedy Harrison is ranked sixth overall in the 200 meters in the Class of 2019 with a 20.60 personal record.

Deonte McGray has been part of nationally ranked relay teams, and he's recovering from an injury suffered senior year.

"Both of these guys come from one of the most successful track and field programs in the country," Pennington said. "Kennedy has a lot of range as a long sprinter but also has short sprint speed.

"He could find a place on our 4X100 relay and can also come in and contest school records. Deonte is finally healthy, and he has huge upside. I think both of these guys can have special careers here."

NSU added two Louisiana products in Natchitoches Central's Dejon Blake and Buckeye High's Andrew Worthy.

"(Blake) is coming from right across the street, and he can come in and make our 400 meters runners more competitive," Pennington said. "(Andrew) suffered a football injury as a senior, but this is a self-taught kid with great size and unbelievable work ethic."

The Demons inked two junior college All-American jumpers in Jeremy Lawson (Butler Community College) and Timothy Wilson (Barton Community College).

Lawson finished in the top eight in the long and triple jumps, posting career marks of 24-7.25 and 49-7, respectively.

Wilson also earned All-American status in the long and triple jumps with top marks of 23-8.75 and 49-6.5.

"I'm really looking forward to working with both of these guys," said NSU jumps coach Tyron Stewart. "Jeremy is very talented and very raw, and I'm excited we had the opportunity to bring in two guys that performed well on the junior college national stage.

"They both have potential to score points for us and be great additions."

NSU head coach Mike Heimerman will have an opportunity to mold thrower Adrian Del Toro, an Oklahoma product who stands at 6-foot-5.

"He's very new to this sport as he just started in March of his senior season," Heimerman said. "He's very strong and has the tools to be a great thrower."

The cross country and distance programs added a pair of runners in transfer Mike Alukungyang Kibet and high school signee Payten Vidourek.

Kibet competed at California Baptist and will run in the 800 and 1500 meters.

Vidourek is a 1600 meters runner who was the top NSU newcomer finisher in the opening cross country meet this season.

"Mike has huge potential and experience," said NSU cross country coach De'Shalyn Jones. "He has a lot of range, and I think he will come in right away and score points.

"Payten will easily be one of our best freshman this season, and he works really hard. I don't think he's anywhere close to his potential yet, and that's exciting to think about."